The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 269 No 7225 p731
23 November 2002

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Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (www.psnc.co.uk)

LPS assessments are appallingly inadequate — PSNC vice chairman

Assessments by primary care trusts of the impact of local pharmaceutical services proposals on existing pharmacy services are appalling, according to Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee vice-chairman Steven Williams.

Speaking at a Dispensing Doctors' Association conference on November 16, Mr Williams said that LPS applicants could move into any area and destabilise the provision of existing NHS pharmaceutical services by bypassing the new contract controls built into the national pharmacy contract.

"The only safety net for existing contractors is that PCTs should consider an impact assessment which sets out how existing services would be affected should the LPS application be granted," he said. "I have to say that that the PSNC is, quite frankly, appalled at the way such assessments are being carried out."

Mr Williams said that assessments had been carried out with as little as a single telephone call with two questions and no opportunity for existing contractors to make any comments. PCT staff conducting the assessments were adopting a cavalier and arrogant attitude. The PSNC was sufficiently concerned about this to take it up with the Department of Health.